Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-22
A 4 SHOT.

Story Of Days Of the Rebellion.
George Peterson ia Detroit Free Pres.
During Bragg's occupation Of Mission
ridge and Lookout mountain ] was con
pected with the Army of the Tennessee A.
a scout, and in seeking 10 re-enter the city
after a "trip lasting four days l was cap
tured on the Rossyille road, about three
miles from Snodgrass hill, around which
the battle Of Chickamauga ragged so
6~ereely. The whole country was full of
rebel soldiers, scouts and b~ushwhackers.
and | was moving through the woods with
the utmost care, thinking to get as near to
our lines as possible, before dark, when a
man in butternut clothes suddenly stepped
out in front of me from behind a large
tree. lifted u shotgun to an aim mi called
out:
''Stand right thar, or I'll blow the top OF
yer head Off"
I was more than a scout was q spy:
That ia | was in semi-rebel uniform and
within the enemy's lines, and any drum
head court-martial would sentence me 10
death. | was not altogether unprepared
for the meeting, having realized the proDa-
bility, and rs the gun covered me an
swered the man in what | tried to make a
steady voice:
'Tfit's all the same to yOu l prefer to
sit down, for I'm clean beat out with hard
work"
! sat down on a log and looked up at
him. lie was q man about 40 years OF age
tall, gaunt and fierce looking, and from
the cut of his clothes j took him to be q
member of some predatory rebel band
which had been called in for the time De
ing and assigned with the regular troops.
He might, however, have been a regular
scout, or a bushwhacker working on his
own hook. At this point we were between
the rebel front and the pickets and out
posts, and in a very thick wood. The time
was 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
As I sat down the man lowerd his gun
and stood leaning on it for a minute while
he surveyed me. Then l noticed that ne
had been drinking, and was what Is term
ed ugly drunk. His eyes were bloodshot
his face covered with scowls, and 1t wa
plain enough that he was ripe for murder
"Who be you?" he demanded, in a gruf
voice.
John Thomas, ascout for General Bragg
Who are yOu?"
so you know General Bragg, eh?"
Certainly"
$50 do /. Purity good man, eh?"
eyes. Who are your
oNone O. your id bizness"" he eX
claimed, after regarding me for a fnll hal
minute.
well, l don't care. What are you do
ing here in the woOds?'
$50 you know General Bragg, eh?' h
uueried, coming a little closer. =.
81 told you l did. I'm going to hi
headquarters now"
''Oh, yOu be? Mebbe you'd be so KIN
rs to pint ont whar' them headquarte
are?"
II would if I could, but l haven't fount
'em yet" -,
81 thought so! Aud do you know tn
General by sight?'
az do"
''Mebbe you'd be so kind and cOnde
scendin' as to describe him to me!'
He had ME there. | had never hear'
the Generals looks passed upon, and | re
allied that the chances were not one II
twenty that / could hit him.
"Well, I'm waiting" growled the mar
after u moment.
"Oh, YOU are,' l sueered, changing m,
tone and demeanOr. Now, then, l wan
to know all about You. I've been think
ing you might be a Yankee spy l Ough
to take you back to the lines.
"He! he! her' chuckled the fellow, $ b
leered at me. Say, Yank, you amt hal
smart! | knowed YOU on sight and you
voice give you away
Don't 'Yank' me-" l Indignantly ex
claimed. '>You come along to the pickle
post and I'll find ont who you are
| started to rise up, but he lifted his gu
to his face and growled along the barrel;
you've list got thirty seconds TO hv
and you'd better do some tall praying!'
He meant murder. | could see it IN hi
ewes, and read it in his face. Whether h
really took me for a Yankee spy or wheth
er he wanted 10 kill me out of pure Gus
sedneSs and for the q OF pIuhuer,
know not, but he certainly meant to kill
He had my head covered with his aim, I'm
ger on the trigger, and was apparently
counting of the seconds allowed me, vine
he suddenly Strengthened up, dropped hi
gun, threw up his arms and fell forward q
nv feet. As he was falling | heard the re
port of a gun not far away, and l kne'
that the man had been shot. i sprang n
and took refuge behind y large tree, an
though | waited and watched for half a
hour no one appeared, nor could detect
movement. | crept on hands and knees :
the stiffening corpse and saw that the ma
had been shot in the back. took the she
back TO a tree 300 feet away, and ther
found footprints where the shooter ha
stood. Who he was, why he had fired tn
shot, and which way he went are matter
which | nave never been able to solve.